This is an example that airbnb has major weaknesses that need to be corrected. I am
a host myself with close to 500 reviews so far. I am shocked that anyone using airbnb can experience something like this, and it is demotivating in my hard work to meet every obligation when hosting. This is what happened:
-the host accepted my booking
-the host did not answer my messages
-the host phone nr is out of service
-I went to the adress and got in contact with another person living in the same building, he did not recognize the host on picture nor by name
-I contacted airbnb and answererd automatic generated questions, untill the program provided a phone nr to what was said to be an airbnb representative
-I called the nr several times, but unbelivably, it is only opreated by answering machines, and it only provides info in Thai language, not one word in English.
Finally I took into a hotel instead, and have now paid for both the airbnb that obviously doesn’t exist, and the hotel. Today, 24 hours after the booking should have started, I still have not received any answer from
Airbnb. After once more calling to Airbnb today, this time with a Thai speaking friend translating the answering machine message, I realize that Airbnb actually have no human being available to handle such a case. We ended up with the same final answering machine, suggesting airbnb.com/help. It seriously looks like and work like mothing but a pure scam, and this is the service guests in a touristic country with a population of 71 million meets.
My Norwegian mobile nr is not in use as I am in Thailand, I guess that is the situation for any western touris here, as it is too expensive and we all use a Thai simcard as we travel in Thailand. But how can they not send a message? If I as a host would treat my clients the way Airbnb treat me in this case, neither of us would be in business.
This particular host should be deleted asap and whoever is responsibel for customer service for Airbnb in Thailand should not have the job they are not doing.